Anyone have shoulder harnesses in their Contemporary?

[767Jockey]

Anyone have shoulder harnesses in their Contemporary? What are you anchoring them too. There's no framework back there, at least not in my 1983 vintage car. What are you guys doing for structural attach points for the lap and shoulder harnesses?

[jeff.nel]

I was wondering the same thing my self? I have no desire to eat my steering wheel.

[John McMahon]

You should be able to use the bolts that mount the body to the frame in the trunk behind the bulkhead. You can also mount them on the rollbar above the body using the aftermarket bracket or wrap them around the rollber inside the trunk.

[767Jockey]

I was thinking of bolting a plate of aluminum behind the bulkhead in the trunk, maybe 3/16" or so thick, perhaps about 18" high and running the width of the car. I could bolt the shoulder belts to that, and use the plate to spread the load across the fiberglass bulkhead in case of impact. It's not an ideal solution, but there is really no structure back there to tap into.

John, if I use the body bolt, the belt would go through the bulkhead and then make a sharp turn downward and outward. Where the belt passes through the bulkhead would be a force that would probably rip the bulkhead in case of impact. The bulkhead is very thick and beefy on my car, probably about 1/2" thick or so, coupled with the spreading of the load from the plates, I am hoping that it would hold. Any other ideas out there? I'd like shoulder harnesses on both sides as my daughters and other people will sometimes ride with me in the car and I would like to have them protected as well. Do none of you CCX guys have shoulder harnesses?

[tcrist]

Check out the roll bar cross member from Finishline. You could mount it below the body line if you do not want to see it.
http://www.finishlineaccessories.com...8af90f964dce13

Terry

[bmwdb10]

Doug and Jeff,

I have the cross member thing that Enzo sells. Works well as a mounting place for the sholder belts, but I don't care for the bolt heads that stick out regardless of how you mount it. Even a slight tap from the rear could plant one of those things in the back of your head. I made a pad that attached to the inside bolts using 3/4 square stock and covered it tastfully with pipe insulation. Looks ok, provides a secure anchor and also serves as a pad. I don't think there is any pics in my gallery.... I'll email you guys pics.

At some point this winter I am going to have Nick make me a proper height roll bar like Jeff G's that will have a cross member for the belts. Another winter project!

[767Jockey]

Thanks, guys. The driver side shoulder harnesses are easy, the rollbar support is great. I'd like to put shoulder harnesses on the passenger side as well. That's the tough job. Anyone with a Contemporary (or any other car with no structural support back there) have them in your car, and how did you do it?

[tcrist]

You could fab up some tubes to bolt in from underneath the way the roll bar bolts up and bolt the shoulder harness to that. the tubes would not need to go all of the way thru the body, just close up to it for the look. I do not know how the Contemporary frame is but my CR has a frame that runs underneath the rear bulkhead floor for the rollbar to bolt to.

Terry

[mickmate]

Hey Doug just tie it into the roll bar under the rear coaming like Terry suggests. If you wanted to extend across behind to the passenger side do that off the roll bar behind the bulkhead.

[767Jockey]

Nick,
it's been so damned long since the body went to the shop for paint that I can't remember if the outer leg of the roll bar comes down in the trunk or in the wheel well. If they're both in the trunk, I guess I can have you fab a piece of 1/4" or so aluminum plate or steel plate, about 3" or so wide, and running the width of the car. I can use two U bolt type attachments to both legs of the roll bar, and extend it from there to the far side of the car behind the passenger. I can use a spacer and bolt that end of the plate to the bulkhead just to give it a bit of rigidity, but the structure and strength of the darned thing would come from the attachment to the roll bar. Even if the passenger harness isn't the strongest out there, in an accident it has to be better than nothing, no? I think we're on to something here!

[727pilot@usa.co]

Here are pictures of the Roll Bar in our CMC. Nick Acton built it for us and it has a bar just especially for shoulder harness attachment. There is an added piece welded in to the frame just forward of the forward wall of the trunk for the back braces. The main legs are in sockets that are welded to the tops of the spring perches.

Roll Bar Pictures

[1985 CCX]

I do!
The shoulder harness on the bar is scary to me (Head injury), I also think it is not original either. I used a nice pair of Pyrotect to the rear bulkhead, they have a vintage look and are reasonable in price.

Doug, sounds like you are going to town.......

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

I do!
The shoulder harness on the bar is scary to me (Head injury), I also think it is not original either. I used a nice pair of Pyrotect to the rear bulkhead, they have a vintage look and are reasonable in price.

Doug, sounds like you are going to town.......

Jeff, You just bolted the harnesses to the bulkheads? You think that'll hold up OK to impact? I was thinking about that, but using a large plate behind the bulkhead to spread the load and keep the bolt from pulling through. If I do the roll bar scenario, it'll be in the trunk where no one will see it. Thoughts?

And yes, come hell or high water I want to drive this sucker this Summer. The chassis is detailed, the rear suspension is rebuilt, detailed and installed in the chassis, the front suspension should be installed in the next week or two, the fuel and brake lines are next, the fuel tank sending unit goes to Nick next week to have a bigger pickup installed, and the side pipes go to him as well for Classic Chambered mufflers and ceramic coating, and that should be about it for the chassis. The body gets delivered all painted up in early January, the Ron Francis harness is in the mail as we speak, and so are the pin drive wheels.

I'll get the body all assembled and wired and have the pedal box installed while I wait for the engine to be delivered, delivery is promised for February 14. I should have the drive train installed by the end of February, Body on and everything bolted together by the end of March. I'll sort out the bugs and get the interior installed in April (I'm sure there will be MANY bugs to sort out), and hopefully I'll be driving by late April, early May! About darn time, don't you think?

When are you dropping that FE into yours?

Get busy, Nick! Gas pedal assy., sidepipes, gas sending unit, etc.....no pressure, buddy!

[mickmate]

Inner fender vents, I gotta get off this computer. You'll be back together before Jeff at this rate! Roll bar outer leg is in the wheel well so you may want a plate like you were thinking behind bulkhead. Anything you can tie into your roll bar will be strong as though. Pedal box we might have to check with Jeffs for exact location or you might want to shave the front off that frame extension to get ready and fit pedalbox to the footbox after body is on to ensure alignment. Whattya think Jeff?

[roadrod2000]

I had a similar concern with my unique and the low angle of the shoulder harness strap. This is what I did on mine. http://www.uniquecobra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7196 Hope this gives you some ideas.